A Prize For Truth

The Nobel Committee is experiencing difficulty in finding suitable candidates for the Peace Prize. Perhaps the solution is to consider candidates over a broader range of people.

02/06/07 "ICHBlog" — — W hat is as rare these days as a peace-maker? The answer is: a truth-teller. Without truth-tellers, there can be no peace-makers. This year the Nobel Committee should consider giving the Peace Prize to a truth-teller.

To get the ball rolling, here are some suggestions:

Former high-ranking US military commanders Lt. Gen. Robert Gard, Marine Gen. Joseph Hoar, and Vice Adm. Jack Shanahan deserve consideration for their timely warning in the UK Sunday Times that a military attack on Iran would have “disastrous consequences.” A US attack on Iran would end all possibilities of peace in the Middle East. It would be the crime of the century.

Normally, retired military men go along to get along. They support their government’s decisions in exchange for lucrative consulting contracts with the Pentagon or with defense contractors. Speaking truth is personally costly, but these three have spoken truth in the interest of peace.

Former President Jimmy Carter is again qualified, this time for his latest book which seeks to resolve the problem at the heart of Middle East conflict–the Israeli-Palestinian problem. For telling the truth in the interest of peace, Jimmy Carter came under heavy attack from those who seek to gain by the conflict.

Israeli peace activists Jeff Halper and Uri Avnery should be prime candidates for the prize. Halper heads ICAHD, the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions. Halper’s book, The Matrix of Control, describes the reality of Israel’s occupation of Palestine. Uri Avnery founded the Israeli peace group, Gush Shalom, The Peace Bloc. Both of these peace groups are rallying points for Israelis who understand that the main obstacle to peace in the Middle East is Israel’s mistreatment of the Palestinians.

Others deserving consideration are Keith Olbermann, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. With force and eloquence, Olbermann speaks truth to President Bush’s warmongering. Jon Stewart and Colbert combat Bush’s warmongering with humor. All three go head-to-head with the President of the United States in the interest of peace.

The investigative reporter Seymour Hersh and the TV documentary producer John Pilger also stand out as journalists whose truth-telling is important in arming people against leaders who would rush them into war.

Or perhaps an Internet site would be a worthy recipient, such as one of the antiwar sites or Truthout.org. CounterPunch.org advances truth in the interest of peace on a variety of fronts. Vdare.com tells the truth about immigration, the mishandling of which by governments is leading to future conflicts.

False flag operations are proven ploys for launching wars. The 9/11 Scholars site is an encyclopedia of 9/11 analysis. The site deserves consideration for making people aware of the treacherous actions to which governments resort in order to start wars.

Professor David Ray Griffin and Professor Steven Jones are also prime candidates. Professor Griffin has done more than anyone, and certainly more than the 9/11 Commission, to get the truth about the 9/11 attack out of the conspiracy in which it is hidden. Professor Jones has made it clear that powerfully constructed buildings don’t suddenly collapse merely because they are hit by an airplane and experience limited short-lived fires. The courage it took to take on these subjects is inordinate. Their Peace Prize should come with courage clusters.

These suggestions are far from exhaustive.

Truth is a precious commodity. Not only does peace depend on it, but also liberty and justice.

In the present day world we are confronted with propaganda as Big Brother regimes everywhere smother the truth and the right to know. The Nobel Committee could greatly advance the cause of peace by honoring a truth-teller.

Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. He was Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal editorial page and Contributing Editor of National Review. He is coauthor of The Tyranny of Good Intentions.